HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996 Presentation to CC by Sebastian Area Histroical SocietyRIVERFXtONT COMMITTEE PAGE TWO
REGULAR MEETING OF JUNE 17, 1996
MR. SMITH WELCOMED HIS FELLOW COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND THE FELLOW
CITIZENS IN THE AUDIENCE. HE EXPLAINED THAT THEY WOULD BE HAVING A
PRESENTATION FROM THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND EXPRESSED ITS
IMPORTANCE. HE ALSO EXPRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC INPUT AND
ENCOURAGED THE PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSION.
NEW BUSINESS
PRESENTATION BY: THE SEBASTIAN AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
MR. GEORGE KEYS AND MRS. ARLENE WESTFALL GAVE A LENGTHY
PRESENTATION ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE HISTORY OF THE CITY OF SEBASTIAN
USING PHOTOGRAPHS, MAPS, AND TRANSPARENCIES.
SOME O� THE DETAILS TOUCHED UPON WERE:
SEBASTIAN BECAME A CITY IN 1925 AND BEFORE THAT IT WAS
JUST AN AREA.
FROM 1910 - 1925 SEBASTIAN WAS A FISHING AND FARMING
COMMUNITY AS MOST FLORIDA CITIES WERE. 0
IN 1925 INDIAN RIVER DR. WAS CALLED RIVERSIDE DR.
ALL OF THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS FALL IN ON LOUISIANA AVE.,
N. CENTRAL AVE., INDIAN RIVER DR., PALMETTO AVE., MAIN
STREET AND SOME OF THE CROSS STREETS.
IN 1882 SEBASTIAN WAS CALLED NEW HAVEN, BECAUSE THERE WAS
A REVEREND THOMAS NEW WHO CAME AND ESTABLISHED A POST
OFFICE AND AFTER HE DIED SYLVANAS KITCHING HAD A POST
OFFICE AND HE APPLIED FOR THE NAME SEBASTIAN IN 1884.
SEBASTIAN WAS A "WORKING SOUTHERN CITY"
HARDEE OAK WAS PLANTED IN 1891 BY ROBERT HARDEE AND IN
1925 EMMA PROVERA HARDEE, HIS MOTHER, WOULD NOT LET THEM
CUT DOWN THE TREE TO PUT IN THE SIDEWALK.
PALMETTO USED FOR LANDSCAPING AND XERISCAPE LANDSCAPING
WAS COMMON.
ALL OF THE BUILDINGS EAST OF INDIAN RIVER DRIVE WERE ONLY
ONE STORY HIGH EXCEPT FOR THE SEBASTIAN INN. IT WAS
LOCATED WHERE THE SPORTSMAN'S LODGE IS TODAY.
THE DOCKS EXTENDING OUT INTO THE RIVER IS WHAT MADE
SEBASTIAN MOST CHARACTERISTIC AS A FISHING VILLAGE.